Punjab CM Constitutes SIT to probe all aspects of Nabha Jail murder

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the murder of the Bargari sacrilege case main accused in the New Nabha prison. The decision was announced by the Chief Minister at a high-level meeting of top police and administrative officials here.

The SIT, to be headed by ADGP Law & Order Ishwar Singh, will probe all aspects of the fatal attack on Mahinderpal Bittu, a Dera Sacha Sauda follower who was arrested last year. The SIT will ascertain the conspiracy, if any, in the killing of Bittu by prison inmates. It will also investigate the role of the prison staff, an official spokesperson said after the meeting.

Members of the SIT include Amardeep Rai IG Patiala, Hardial Mann DIG Intelligence, Mandeep Singh SSP, Patiala, and Kashmir Singh AIG Counter Intelligence. Taking a serious view of the incident, the Chief Minister has directed the Jail Minister and ADGP Prisons to take all necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. Such brazen violation of law and order, and laxity in prison security will not be tolerated, he warned.

Reacting to the reported demand of Dera followers for withdrawal of cases against the deceased, the Chief Minister said the law will take its own course as the final reports of investigations into the cases against Bittu had been submitted in the courts. It was up to the court to take any decision on the way forward, he added.

Immediately after the murder of Bittu in jail, the Chief Minister had made it clear that the culprits would have to face stringent punishment. Security in the state has been beefed up following the incident and all steps are being taken to check the spread of disinformation and rumor-mongering. The Chief Minister has ordered the security agencies to take all possible measures to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state.

Initial investigations had revealed that Bittu (49), a resident of Faridkot, was attacked by Gursewak Singh (PS Sohana, Mohali) and Maninder Singh (PS Badali Ala Singh, FGS), who were in jail in a murder case.